GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION - DeKalb County Schools

APPENDIX ‘P’
GHSA FINES STRUCTURE FOR RULES VIOLATIONS
In accordance with Section 13 of Article IV of the Constitution of the Georgia High School Association, member
schools are required to abide by all the rules of the Association.
The Executive Director of the Association is empowered to make a determination as to whether a violation of
GHSA rules has occurred, and to assess an appropriate penalty that may include:
1. a fine of not more than $2,500.00 per offense, and/or
2. probation in the sport(s) in which the violation occurred, and/or
3. suspension from the Association for up to a full calendar year, and/or
4. forfeiture of games and/or contests.
Pursuant to such authority, the Georgia High School Association, by and through its Executive Director and with
the approval of the GHSA Executive Committee, implements and publishes the following ranges of fines for
certain designated offenses. Such fines are in addition to the other penalties set forth above. The amount of
such fines and the imposition of other penalties shall be determined by the Executive Director upon consideration
of the facts and circumstances of the violation and shall include, but not be limited to, the following factors:
1. Whether the violation was the result of carelessness, willfulness, or ignorance.
2. The length of time the violation continued.
3. Whether the offense was self-reported or resulted from a complaint by another school, and the extent
of cooperation by school officials in the investigation of the violation.
4. The number of violations involved.
5. The result of the violation (i.e.:
a. injury to a person
b. financial gain of the offending school or financial loss to another school and the amount thereof
c. damage to the reputation of the GHSA
d. whether the violation substantially contributed to winning or losing a game or contest
6. Whether the school involved has had similar or other violations within the past three (3) years.
7. Any other factors deemed by the Executive Director to merit a more or less severe fine and/or penalty.
The list of violations set forth in this listing in not all-inclusive, and if a violation of rules occurs which is not listed
herein, then the Executive Director shall have the authority to assess penalties that he deems appropriate.
In addition to the listed fines and penalties, the Executive Director may issue a severe warning to a member
school which places the school on notice that further violations of GHSA rules will result in increased fines and/
or penalties.